The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, today appointed Mariano Fernández, a former foreign minister from Chile, as his next Special Representative for Haiti and head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti (Minustah).

Mr. Fernández will succeed Edmond Mulet of Guatemala at the head of the United Nations mission according to a statement released by Mr. Ban's spokesperson. In the statement Mr Ban expressed his deep appreciation to Mr. Mulet [who will complete his assignment on 31 May] for his contribution to UN efforts in Haiti in the wake of last year's earthquake.

The new appointment was announced two days after Michel Martelly was sworn in as the new President of Haiti at a ceremony attended by UN officials in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Learn more about Mariano Fernández :

Before becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile, Mariano Fernandez, 66, has served as Ambassador to the United States (2006-2009), United Kingdom (2002-2006), Spain (2000-2002) and Italy (1992-1994). He was also the Representative of Chile to the European Union (1990-1992) and Minister of Foreign Affairs in his country from 1994 to 2000 and from 2003 to 2007 he represented his country at the International Whaling Commission (CBI).

Between 1974-1982, during Chile’s military rule, he remained exiled in Germany during which time he worked as an editor of Development and Cooperation magazine, IPS Dritte Welt-Nachrichten-Agentur news agency and Handbuch der Entwicklungshilfe, or Handbook of Development Assistance. Upon his return to Chile, Mr. Fernández worked as a researcher and member of the Executive Committee of the Center of Studies for Development (CED) (1982-1990).

Mr. Fernández studied law at the Catholic University in Santiago, Chile, and social science research methods at the University of Bonn in Germany.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-2936-haiti-minustah-allocution-de-depart-d-edmond-mulet.html (in french)

BF/ HaitiLibre